Hosiery-finishing machine



A. HELIOT.

HOSIERY FINISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1921.

1 4L36, 37 Patented Nov. 1922.

A. HELIOT.

HOSIERY FINISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1921.

JlAESfiflET Patented Nov. 21, 1922'.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Figoz Fetented Nov. 211, 1922..

UNTTED STATES AUGUSTE HELIOT, 0F TROYJES, FRANCE.

HOSIERY-FINISHING MACHINE.

Application filed May 25,

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it, known that T AUoUs'rE Hr'zmo'r, a citizen of the French Republic, residing-at Troyes, Aube, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hosiery-Finishing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Hitherto machines for finishing hosiery such'as stockings and socks were generally constituted by chambers formed of masonry or of sheet metal boxes, in'which the temperature was raised by means of radiators. The goods placed on suitable wooden forms or blocks were introduced into the heated chambers and owing to the elevated temperature therein became fixed in the shape of the form or. block, within a period varying according to the temperature obtaining,

The blocks were then withdrawn from the apparatus by the operator and placed upon.

an adjacent table on which (the finished goods were removed from the blocksTand replaced by goods to' be treated and passed through the apparatus and so on.

This manipulation of blocks necessitated frequently opening doors or drawers provided in the. chambers .or boxes which re- .sulted in a loss of heat from the said chamther increased by radiation from the walls of the apparatus which were not insulating.

Moreover, notwithstanding the improved'results obtained by the use of metal blocks they could not be used, as the operator could not manipulate them easily in view of their high temperature.

The apparatus according to the invent-ion makes it possible to carry out in one ma-. chine three essential operations constituting the fininishing: viz, steaming the hosiery, drying same at a high temperature and cooling on the block. a

Tt also renders possible the use of metal blocks which impart to the goods a better appearance and a shape which is more permanent.

Ttprevents the admission of cold air into the apparatus, and therefore condensation which is very injurious to the goods.

' llt prevents loss of heat by radiation and makes it possible to dispense with a se arate table. All these advantages toget or makes it possible to obtain. a much higher output.

1921. Serial No. 472,434.

An apparatus according to the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the complete apparatus, and

Figure 2 a section on 'line AA of Figure '1 showing the means 'for cooling the blocks when leaving the apparatus.

The apparatus. comprises a rectangular box 1 closedon all sides and open atthe' two ends for the passage of the goods. The box comprises any suitable number of members 2 connected together and consisting of double walls of fibro-cement, between which is packed mineral wool (or any other nonconducting material) which constitutes an excellent insulating medium and prevents almost entirelyany loss of heat by radiation. The insulating members are secured to a frame made of channel iron and the upper members form a table for the operator and rendersunnecessary an independent table which has hitherto been indispensable with the known apparatus. In the lower partof the apparatus is a battery of ribbed radiators 3 which imparts the constant high temperature (BO-130 C.) required for finishing the goods.

The goods are placed on metal (or wooden) blocks supported edgewise and in the direction of the width by racks 4 which can receive about 12 ofthem. These racks 4 are secured to two endless chains 5 supported on pinions automatically driven by means of belts and gear wheels. Each rack tis arranged between two metalpanels 6 also secured to the two chains and adapted to always keep the heating chamberclosed to prevent loss of-heat and admission of cold air which causes condensation, which stains the articles under treatment.

7is asteam inlet, 8 the'steam connection of a vapourizer, 9 the vapourizer, 10 a blowing apparatus for cooling the blocks. 11, Figure 2, are nozzles projecting in diiierent directions for blowing cold air on to the blocks 12, 13, Figure 1, is a heating plate, 14 and 16 are neutral. chambers, 15 is a heating plate.

The apparatus is operated in the followilig manner The goodsare placed on the rack a and are'advanced into the interiorof the apparatus to a distance equal to that comprised between two panels 6, as already stated, by the operation of a lever arranged within. reach of the attendant and not shown; the rack a takes up the position 7) and remains there whilst the attendant is placing say 12 blocks on the new rack which has, been advanced to a position in front of him. The filled rack is then advanced into the heating chamber, then the next one is filled and advanced, and so on.

In the positions i) and 0, the goods are in a neutral chamber 14: closed at the top and at the bottom, where they are notex posed to any action. on arriving in the osition d, the good are above a steaming hox 9 limited by two of the panels 6 in which the goods are moistened bysteam. The goods of course remain in this chamher the time takenn-r in loading a rack.-

The steaming is regu ated at will-.by the attendant by means of the'cock 8 placed within his reach. I

At the top ofthe vapourizing and neutral chambers isa heating plate 15 which prevents the formation of drops by condensation which would be liable to stain the goods.

In the positions e, g, h, 11, j, 22: the goods are exposed to the high temperature of the radiators for the period taken-up in .plac- Ting seven dozen articles on the blocks. The chamber (from e to is) is closed at the top hy a sheet metal plate forming a hot ceiling which prevents condensation. On reaching the position 1, the goods enter another neutral chamber 16 also provided with a heati plate 13 for-preventing condensation. ln reaching the position m, the goods pass out of the heater and are rapidly cooled in a current of air forced b means of a hlbwer 10' through a suitab e number of nozzles 11 of variable inclination. The cold air impinges against' the goods ever their entire surface during the time taken up in blocking a new dozen.

The cooling operation whilst ;tacilitating the manipulation'of metal blocks imparts a permanency to the crease, in the goods which is maintained notwithstanding the amount of subsequent handling of the goods. This latter result is of the utmost importance for the hosiery industry, and. has never yet been attained by the various. systems at present in use, 7

It is obvious that thedimensions of the apparatus, the number of neutral steaming in said tunnel, saidchambers including a series of imperforate panels, a conveyor therefor, racks also, carried by the conveyor, each anel completely closing thetunnel.

2. n apparatus for'finishing hosiery, including a tunnel, a conveyor passing through said tunnel, racks and panels carried by said conveyor, said racks being adapted to support hosiery, said panels com.-

pletely closing said tunnel to form a series of chambers, said racks and (panels being independently mounted op sai conveyor.

3. An apparatus for finishing hosiery eomprising a tunnel divided into a number of chambers, includin a neutral cham her, a steaming cham r, and a drying chamber, the neutral chamber being rovided at the upper part with a heating plhte, the steaming cham er being providedat its base with a vapourizer, and the drying chamber having a radiator and means to convey an article through said chambers.

4:. Apparatus for finishing hosiery, comprising a tunnel, endless chains extending therethrough carrying hosiery racks, and carrying between said racks a series of panels the area of which is equal to the eross sectional area of the tunnel, which panels divide the tunnel into a number of chambers when passing through said tunnel.

.5. In a hosiery finishing apparatus means for cooling the goods nonthe blocks as soon as they ieavethe steaming and heating tunnel, comprising a numberof air nozzles and an air compressor.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

austere senior. 

